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Does motor oil have a shelf life?
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Ellicott City, MD
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Anyone know for sure? I bought a few extra liters of motor oil over a year ago... and was wondering if I can still use them. They've been sitting in my house... so its pretty much climate controled (not sure if that matters).
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Vacation.
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Yeah, it'll be fine to use.
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Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
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Baninated
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Yeah, I here that any oil that's been sitting around can go bad. I mean, it's only been sitting under the ground for THOUSANDS OF YEARS....
seriously, it'll be fine.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Ellicott City, MD
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Originally Posted by suvsr4terrorists
Yeah, I here that any oil that's been sitting around can go bad. I mean, it's only been sitting under the ground for THOUSANDS OF YEARS....
seriously, it'll be fine.
good point. But its synthetic  would that be different? I think I'll go ahead and use it.. no sense wasting all that money.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Northern VA - Just outside DC
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"Real oils" are good for 25 years, Synth's are good for 15. According to the Castrol guy.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Diego, CA, USA
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Originally Posted by suvsr4terrorists
Yeah, I here that any oil that's been sitting around can go bad. I mean, it's only been sitting under the ground for THOUSANDS OF YEARS....
Crude oil was sitting in the ground for thousands of years. It's refined before you put it in your car, isn't it?
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Chuck
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"Instead of either 'multi-talented' or 'multitalented' use 'bisexual'."
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Baninated
Join Date: Jul 2005
Status:
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Originally Posted by Chuckit
Crude oil was sitting in the ground for thousands of years. It's refined before you put it in your car, isn't it?
Dude. Oil is still oil. If it's refined, it just has certain parts of said oil. Oil does not spoil. Ever.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: With my kitties!
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Dead dinosaurs... go ahead and use it
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Administrator  Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
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Motor oil has more than just "oil" in it. It has detergents, anti-shearing agents, viscosity controlling agents...all sorts of stuff. It is not 100% chemically stable if not stored properly-in a cool dry place. Extra heat during storage can damage the oil's ability to deal with engine heat. Exposure to water can cause the oil to absorb some of the water, changing its characteristics. YES, there is a reason for a shelf life.
Now, if Castrol says that "natural" oils are good for 25 years and synthetics for 15 years, you can see that there's a reason. That's a LONG shelf life, though, so stock up sparingly! 
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Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
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Senior User
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Arizona Wasteland
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Also keep in mind, motor oil needs to meet different standards as time passes. So if you find a real old bottle of oil it may not meet the standards needed for your engine.
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Baninated
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Originally Posted by ghporter
Exposure to water can cause the oil to absorb some of the water, changing its characteristics. YES, there is a reason for a shelf life.
How would it absorb water inside a plastic bottle?
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Administrator Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
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Originally Posted by suvsr4terrorists
How would it absorb water inside a plastic bottle?
If stored correctly it can't. If stored in such a way that the plastic is rubbed or overheated, tiny pores can develop in the plastic, through which water can transmigrate. Keeping a case of oil in your basement which may be flooded isn't the best way to store it, but then keeping it in a hot garage forever isn't either. Try to keep it cool and dry...not only will the oil remain with most of its intended qualities, but you won't make a big mess with leakage either.
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Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Vacation.
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Originally Posted by Ganesha
Also keep in mind, motor oil needs to meet different standards as time passes. So if you find a real old bottle of oil it may not meet the standards needed for your engine.
I concur.
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Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
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Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Indy.
Status:
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Originally Posted by suvsr4terrorists
How would it absorb water inside a plastic bottle?
Plastic is oxygen permeable. Oil oxidizes. In the ground there is little air.
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